ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — A day after Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed in a qualifying accident, five-time world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first Top Fuel win in 12 tries at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.
The event was overshadowed by the death of Kalitta. He died from multiple injuries after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday.
“With the passing of Scott Kalitta yesterday, today’s race was extremely tough to get through from an emotional standpoint. But we managed to take care of business like Scott would have wanted us to,” Schumacher said.
Schumacher had a 4.589-second run at 325.06 to defeat Brandon Bernstein for his 46th win, moving him within six of Joe Amato (52) for most Top Fuel wins ever.
Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson and Chip Ellis also won in their divisions.
In Funny Car, Wilkerson drove his Chevy Impala SS to a 4.877 at 319.29 to edge Mike Neff.
Greg Anderson drove his Pontiac GXP to his third win of the season, posting a time of 7.520 at 200.23, which proved strong enough to get past runner-up Dave Connolly. It is Anderson’s 54th career win, fourth in Englishtown and second consecutive at Raceway Park.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis was able to ride his Suzuki past No. 1 qualifier Chris Rivas to pick up his sixth career win and first with Don Schumacher Racing. Ellis ran a 7.040 at 187.21.
Sunday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
Englishtown, N.J.
Final Order
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher. 2. Brandon Bernstein. 3. Cory McClenathan. 4. Rod Fuller. 5. Antron Brown. 6. Doug Herbert. 7. Larry Dixon. 8. Bob Vandergriff. 9. J.R. Todd. 10. Steve Torrence. 11. Morgan Lucas. 12. Doug Foley. 13. Doug Kalitta. 14. Hillary Will. 15. Todd Paton. 16. David Grubnic.
Funny Car
1. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala. 2. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang. 3. Del Worsham, Impala. 4. John Force, Mustang. 5. Gary Densham, Impala. 6. Robert Hight, Mustang. 7. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger. 8. Tony Pedregon, Impala. 9. Jerry Toliver, Charger. 10. Ron Capps, Charger. 11. Ashley Force, Mustang. 12. Gary Scelzi, Charger. 13. Bob Tasca III, Mustang. 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger. 15. Jim Head, Toyota Solara. 16. Scott Kalitta, Solara.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP. 2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt. 3. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus. 4. Mike Edwards, GXP. 5. Larry Morgan, Stratus. 6. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt. 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt. 8. Jason Line, GXP. 9. Justin Humphreys, Stratus. 10. Warren Johnson, GXP. 11. Jim Yates, GXP. 12. Allen Johnson, Stratus. 13. Johnny Gray, Stratus. 14. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt. 15. Greg Stanfield, GXP. 16. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Chip Ellis, Suzuki. 2. Chris Rivas, Buell. 3. Matt Smith, Buell. 4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson. 5. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson. 6. Craig Treble, Suzuki. 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki. 8. Angelle Sampey, Buell. 9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki. 10. Matt Guidera, Buell. 11. Mike Berry, Buell. 12. Shawn Gann, Suzuki. 13. Hector Arana, Buell. 14. Wes Wells, Suzuki. 15. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki. 16. Ryan Schnitz, Kawasaki.
Finals
Top Fuel
Tony Schumacher, 4.589 seconds, 325.06 mph., def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.562, 323.04.
Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.877, 319.29, def.def. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.883, 316.75.
Pro Stock
Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 7.578, 200.23, def. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 20.285, 36.59.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 7.040, 187.21, def. Chris Rivas, Buell, foul.
Point Standings
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 1,009. 2. Antron Brown, 765. 3. Larry Dixon, 756. 4. Rod Fuller, 668. 5. Hillary Will, 652. 6. Cory McClenathan, 633. 7. Brandon Bernstein, 609. 8. Doug Herbert, 499. 9. Doug Kalitta, 483. 10. David Grubnic, 480.
Funny Car
1. Tim Wilkerson, 807. 2. Ashley Force, 675. 3. John Force, 629. 4. Tony Pedregon, 598. 5. Robert Hight, 592. 6. Cruz Pedregon, 572. 7. Gary Densham, 529. 8. Mike Neff, 517. 9. Ron Capps, 503. 10. Bob Tasca III, 439.
Pro Stock
1. Kurt Johnson, 792. 2. Greg Anderson, 766. 3. Jeg Coughlin, 730. 4. Jason Line, 719. 5. Mike Edwards, 601. 6. V. Gaines, 595. 7. Allen Johnson, 559. 8. Ron Krisher, 554. 9. Greg Stanfield, 520. 10. Warren Johnson, 501.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Andrew Hines, 556. 2. Chip Ellis, 478. 3. Matt Smith, 460. 4. Chris Rivas, 407. 5. Matt Guidera, 361. 6. Angelle Sampey, 360. 7. Eddie Krawiec, 325. 8. Craig Treble, 292. 9. Karen Stoffer, 240. 10. Hector Arana, 234.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
